SYNOPSIS:

MONEY, POWER AND LOVE A Synopsis MONEY, POWER AND LOVE is tale of adventure, action and romance in 1700 France. John Law was as man ahead of this time. He invented credit and paper money and became the world’s first millionaire. He was cocky, a lady killer and a flamboyant gambler. He won the admiration of the Kings of Europe and history refers to him as the father of modern day banking. Two Scotsman, John Law and his younger brother, Will, are attacked by bandits while they are on the way to present financial theories to save England from bankruptcy. They are robbed and stripped of their possessions. Rescue comes from a beautiful English aristocratic lady, Lady Catherine, travelling the same road. This chance encounter leads to John’s life long quest for the lady’s hand. The Lady in Waiting also in the carriage shows interest in John. John later meets with a group of blue bloods in an English tavern who assist him in making contact with the English King. John displays his card games skills with the group, but one player, Beau Wilson is not amused. He calls John a cheat and swears revenge for his losses. John and his brother leave quickly and await their appointed time with the King’s Minster of Finance. John accompanied by his new friend, Sir Arthur Pembroke, joins a group of England’s best minds to discuss ways to save England from financial disaster. John impresses the group and the Minister of Finance is interested in another meeting. John assures the Minister that he will be ready when called. Meanwhile, Beau Wilson searches for John. He finds John at a local tavern. They have a brief skirmish and Wilson issues a challenge to fight until death. John leaves the tavern and prepares for the duel. However, first he must see his lady of interest, Lady Catherine. He approaches her house without an invite. Lady Catherine reluctantly lets him in. He professes his love for her. She turns away, but she has an interest. She asks him to leave and as he does he catches the watching eye of her Lady in Waiting, Mary Roberts. Wilson forces Sir Arthur’s hand and gains his support for the duel. John is surprised that his new friend his turned on him, but nevertheless is ready for the duel. They fight a savage and brutal duel with swords. John wins and kills Wilson. Sir Arthur is upset and has John tossed in prison. It looks like the end for John; death by hanging. At the last minute, John is rescued through trickery by Mary Roberts. They make a mad dash to the dock. John, Will and Mary escape to France just in time. Sir Arthur discovers that his love interest, Lady Catherine, has an interest in John Law. He is infuriated by this new knowledge. He journeys to France to meet with his cousin, Andre Begnaud, the Chief of Police in Paris. Andre vows to help his cousin, but within the limits of the law. Sir Arthur begins his search for John. John survives in France by playing cards. Mary Roberts professes her love for him. He pushes her aside then returns her interest. John meets the King’s Minister, Phillip, by accident. The strike up a friendship and John is invited to present his theories to the King’s court. He is excited and then disappointed as the King shows no interest. Phillip comforts John and tells him that there will be a time for great mutual benefit when the old King dies. Sir Arthur discovers John’ location and sends his men. They find John, accompanied by Mary Roberts, in the streets of Paris. A scuffle begins and John and Mary dash away. John escapes, but Mary is catches a bullet and dies. John and Will flee Paris. John accumulates vast wealth by playing cards in casinos in the great capitols of Europe. He moves quickly from city to city while being chased by Sir Arthur. He finds Lady Catherine in a great city at his hotel. They have an encounter which leads to a brief love affair. The romance is short lived as Sir Arthur closes in for the kill. Once again, John and Will escape at the last minute. He receives a message at the hotel just before he leaves. He is summoned to Paris by Phillip. He meets again with Phillip who is now the Regent of France, as the King has died. John feels that he has a second chance for his theories to be accepted. However, the Regent issues a challenge to John. If John will go to Louisiana and report on the true state of affairs there then the Regent will give him a bank and follow his theories. John accepts the challenge. John arrives in Louisiana and finds the French colony is a mess. He assumes leadership and makes friends with the Indians. He finds ways to develop trade and keep settlers in the colony. Sir Arthur discovers his whereabouts and sends a pirate to kill him. The attempt fails as John is more than a match with the sword. The Indians tell John that there is gold in the hills of the Louisiana territory. John makes a deal with the Indians to travel and find the gold. During the long journey, he is attacked by a bear and barely survives. They reach a cave wears John discovers the gold. He is delighted and knows that his mission in Louisiana is now complete and he can return to France in glory. John returns to France. He meets with the Regent and explains his theories again. Together than lay out the plans for a financial empire. John is extremely successful. He invents paper money and credit which he uses to expand the economy. His efforts are further successful when he combines two French trading companies with his bank and enjoys enormous wealth. Everyone loves John Law. He helps many of them become millionaires. Lady Catherine moves from England to France. Will hears about her arrival and tells John. John is excited, but reluctant to try again to persuade her to accept his love. He sends Will to express his interest for the Lady. Will presents a strong case for his brother, but his rejected. John is disappointed and tries to drown his sorrow through parties and other women. The French economy enjoys much success through John’s leadership and then starts to inflate a great speed. Sir Arthur, who is now back in Paris, devises a scheme to bring down John. He uses his connections to manipulate the financial markets. John and Phillip become greedy and don’t see what is going on until too late. The economy explodes. The people seek the death of John Law. John and Phillip go into hiding. John arranges for Will to escape to Scotland, but it is too late for John. He confronts the people outside his hotel. They back him into a corner. A stone is thrown that pierces his head. He falls to the ground expecting death. Meanwhile, Lady Catherine hears about the conformation and rushes in her carriage to save John. She finds him and they escape in her carriage as the Regents men break up the crowd. John struggles to recover in Lady Catherine’s hotel. They know that they need to get out of Paris quickly. They enter her carriage and make a mad sprint to Amsterdam. Sir Arthur is informed of their attempt to escape. He gathers some men and they ride horses to catch the carriage. They draw closer and closer to the carriage. Lady Catherine screams in fear. John and Catherine, as well as the riders are unaware that there is a giant gorge ahead. The carriage spends out of control and falls in the gorge. The riders cannot avoid as similar dilemma. John and Sir Arthur hit the ground and jump to their feet with swords draw. Round and round they go at each other. John eventually gains the upper hand. He has Sir Arthur on the ground with his sword to his throat. He pauses for a moment and decides not to kill him. He rips open Sir Arthur’s shirt with his sword and carves a symbol to remember. He and Lady Catherine mount the horses of the fallen men and ride out. Sir Arthurs shouts his anger and vows that more will come for John Law. It’s night time in New Orleans. A card game is underway. The stakes are high. One man seems to be winning it all. Two men fight it out in the last game. The tall man with a beautiful lady on his arm plays his last card. He wins. He turns to his lady and murmurs “Awesome, I’m back. A fantastic story that stretches across two continents as the old world of Kings meets the new world frontier life. A memorable leading character that is based on a true story and an adventure that will excite you to the end.